In the 17th century, René Descartes, French scientist and philosopher, revolutionised the understanding of pain. He postulated that injured tissue in the body sent pain signals via the nerves to the brain. The brain then translated this message and we become conscious of pain. Although this concept survived for nearly 300 years, modern pain research over the last 50 years has shown this to be incorrect. So, what is the truth about pain? Modern pain […]
In Scandinavian countries, it is estimated that as many as 90% of office workers have access to sit-stand workstations. In the United Kingdom, that figure is just 1%. Culturally, we are told that concentration and productivity are best achieved when sitting down. New research, however, shows that this may not actually be accurate, and could, in fact, lead to health problems.
Discover how you can improve posture and avoid injury at work with our workstation ergonomics questionnaire. In order to assess whether your workstation is set up correctly, please answer the questions as accurately and honestly as possible. In a ergonomically correct work environment, all questions should be answered in the affirmative. If the reply to any of these questions is no, action should be taken to optimise your workstation and avoid any possible office-related injuries before they arise. You may be able to do this yourself or with the help of your manager, union or health and safety representative.
Working from Home Syndrome Free Webinar: Monday 16 May 2022, 7-8pm With presentation by Adrian Dilworth (Osteopath) The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy is running a free public health webinar titled Working From Home Syndrome on Monday 16 May 2022 (7-8pm) with Adrian Dilworth. As many of us now work from home, Adrian will be discussing how we can prevent back and neck pain while working from home. He will cover topics such as ergonomics […]
Beating Back Pain Free Public Health Webinar: Monday 17 January 2022, 7-8pm With presentation by Clive Lathey DO. MSc (Sports Medicine) The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy is holding a free public health webinar titled Beating Back Pain on Monday 17 January 2022 (7-8pm) with Clive Lathey DO. MSc (Sports Medicine). Registered Osteopath Clive Lathey, who is also the Clinical Director of the Putney Clinic, will discuss back pain. In the webinar, he will cover […]
BY CLIVE LATHEY, D.O MSC (SPORTS MEDICINE) Musculoskeletal pain (back, neck and other joints), can be very acute and debilitating; resulting in fear and anxiety. As a consequence, patients often request MRI scans in the belief that it is going to be an important part of their treatment. While MRI scans are a “gold standard” diagnostic investigation, there are guidelines concerning their appropriate use. History of MRI scans MRI scans were developed in the 1970s […]
If you suffer from chronic pain, you’ve probably at some point been told that you’re supposed to stay as active as possible. However the thought probably makes you cringe, especially when sometimes, just getting through the day at home or work is hard enough. This is where a physical therapist can help. They can give you a personalised strengthening and exercise plan, and help you learn how to manage your daily life and reduce pain […]
ARE YOUR PROBLEMS CONNECTED? It is not uncommon to have more than one problem in the body simultaneously. This surprises many people but as osteopaths, this is actually something we see very often. This is good news for patients, who may find resolution to several persistent problems. However, the key is finding the primary problem. PRIMARY PROBLEMS AND SECONDARY EFFECTS Achilles tendon injuries can take months to recover, during which time a slight limp can […]
Painkillers and NSAIDs versus Osteopathy? This is an area of great debate. Painkillers (such as paracetamol) and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such ibuprofen) are two of the most common pharmaceutical drugs used to treat musculoskeletal (mechanical) pain. However, recent evidence has shown that these types of drugs are very often ineffective, if not inappropriate, in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain. Here Osteopath Tim Goullet sheds some light as to why traditional forms of physical therapy […]
Is exercise the best medicine? This thought provoking article published recently in The Times leaves us with food for thought. When treating patients, have we become too reliant on prescribing medications? Are these drugs effective? Or are other forms of treatment more effective? For example, in the treatment of back pain, recent research has shown that gentle and regular exercise is a far more effective than NSAIDs and painkillers. As outlined in the article, social-prescribing […]
